Lismore City Council recently provided an update for the construction of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail. The Lismore to Bentley section continues to make progess.Council said, "Construction crews are focusing their work on bridges and road crossings, with significant progress on the bridges at Bungabee and Back Creek. Groundwork and drainage are also continuing."Existing bridges and structures are being used in various ways in the construction of the Rail Trail. After evaluating all the bridges and structures, some were identified for restoration and inclusion in the trail, while others were too dilapidated or unsuitable to meet safety standards. These unsuitable bridges are being replaced with appropriate structures based on the land's topography. "Bridges that cannot be used on the trail itself are being referenced with signage, providing a structural feature to be admired while on the trail. The project team is currently working on developing interpretive signage along the track."The Northern Rivers Rail Trail continues to be a key driver of visitation to both the Tweed and Richmond Valley sections. Lismore businesses are encouraged to get 'Rail Trail Ready' with the Lismore section opening later this year. If you have a business that offers visitor experiences, services, or products, there are opportunities to leverage the rail trail.For more information on how your business or idea can benefit, please contact [email protected] information on the Lismore to Bentley section can be found at https://yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au/bentley-lismore-rail....The Lismore to Bentley section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail is expected to be finished by late 2024.Funding for the Rail Trail project has been provided by the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund.

Lismore City Council, in collaboration with ABC Takeover Lismore winners from the May leadership summit, is launching a transformative new initiative for local youth: High Schoolers Haven. This unique project aims to redefine opportunities for local youth, offering a vibrant pop-up event framework, where young people can cultivate skills, forge connections with peers and mentors and contribute meaningful feedback on their community.Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said Council was committed to supporting young people and the initiative is a significant opportunity to empower and connect the future leaders of the city. “There have been ongoing collaborative efforts since November 2023 involving Council, the Office for Regional Youth and the Richmond Police District to amplify youth voices,” he said.“High Schoolers Haven is an output of this collaboration and something we hope will establish a successful framework that can be replicated in any community or location moving forward."One of the winners from the ABC Takeover summit and a key figure behind the development of High Schoolers Haven, Artesia, said there are limited social opportunities for teenagers outside of school. “As a teenager, I would much rather attend events organised by my peers, trusting that they know how to create activities we truly enjoy,” she said.Activities ranging from sports to arts will take place at the Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre stadium, complemented by dedicated chill-out spaces for relaxation and socialising. In addition to recreational activities, High Schoolers Haven will feature local youth organisations available for young people to engage with. High Schoolers Haven is set to kick off its pilot phase with events scheduled on Friday evenings: 5 July, 2 August, 6 September, 4 October and 1 November from 4pm to 7pm. Comprehensive data collection during these sessions - covering attendee numbers, costs, community backing and participant input - will play a crucial role in gauging the initiative's sustainability and pinpointing potential future funding avenues.All interested organisations, individuals and groups are invited to join us in supporting these events by submitting a supporter application at the High Schoolers Haven page at yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au. Young people wanting to attend the events can also register on this page.

In recent years, there has been a push to encourage women to take up non-traditional female work roles and trades. In and around Lismore, this could really help with the lack in supply of tradespeople in the region. However, the uptake of these roles does not look like it has been as successful as intended, but there are success stories, as told by Lismore's Elijha Fortesque.The NSW government reports, “Trades where women make up less than 25 per cent of the workforce are known as non-traditional trades.”“The NSW Government, through its Women in Trades Strategy 2021-2024, is making substantial efforts to boost the representation of women in non-traditional trades, aiming to create a more inclusive and diverse workforce.”This is not new to those working in the employment industry. Many local efforts have tried to embrace the cause to address this. Here is the experience of one (anonymous) female employment networker;“I've worked in the VET sector for 16 years. So, over that time, I've been involved with putting together pre-employment programs and essentially working in the apprenticeship space, representing all types of apprentices. Recently, we have secured funding just to work with females in male dominated trades and to help create awareness around career opportunities for females.“There was definitely employment out of each program we put together, 100%.”We looked at how successful these have been. “Over the past eight months, I've signed up two female painters in that time. So, two lady tradies. Not amazing numbers, but there are numbers coming through.”In the same time frame, the NSW Government processed about 10 men a month. A number of suggestions were made as to why that might be the case. Early mornings, childcare, and school drop-offs are a few mentioned. However, other traditionally female-based roles include shift work, for example, nursing. These factors are not an issue or can be overcome.The NSW Government have put plans into place to increase women in trades;The NSW Government has a mandatory requirement for all government infrastructure projects over $100 million to meet skills and diversity targets. One of these targets is 2% of the trades workforce to be women in trades.Organisations that participated in the Connecting Women to Trades program are encouraging employers to create more inclusive and supportive advertisements when advertising for women in trades or trade-related positions.And in Lismore;Get Handy workshops where the aim of the program was to break down barriers for women in the Northern Rivers region of NSW entering trades and to engage women in trades experiencing skills shortages. This resulted in:2 x full-time apprenticeships9 x completed pre-apprenticeship course16 x registered interested with TAFE in a trade course7 x working in a non-traditional role (traffic control, handyman, civil)The NSW Govt tells us that these are the figures for the number of men and women starting trades in NSW:In the 12 months preceding Sept 30, 2022;Males: 24,230 or 86%Females: 3,900 or 14%A year later on Sept 30, 2023;Males: 20,315 or 87%Females: 2,930 or 13%The total number of women in trades over the years is only growing slowly. It looks like this:A spokesperson for the NSW Govt reports, “Big businesses are subject to audits and evaluations to ensure compliance with gender equality standards. Organisations like the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) require large employers to report on various gender equality indicators, including the composition of their workforce and the actions taken to support women in the workplace.”Essential Energy is one organisation that has succeeded in engaging female contractors. We spoke to Lismore’s Elijha Fortesque, who completed her electrical apprenticeship with Essential Energy.“I'm 25 years of age, and I'm a fully qualified electrician with Essential Energy. I'm also undertaking a second trade within that company for a lineworker apprenticeship.  “My day-to-day is going out in the crews climbing up poles testing and commissioning the network; I'm inspecting and switching the network, dealing with power outages, fault and emergency work after hours. It’s very exciting with what you can and can't do in the world of what is the electrical industry.”Elijha works from the Lismore depot, but that doesn’t restrict her work to the city. “I work in the Lismore area, which ranges all the way out to Nimbin, the back of The Channon, halfway to Bangalow and halfway to Alstonville. You're never in the same place, two days in a row. There’s something new and different every day, which has been great.”At the end of Year 12, Elijha was at the crossroads of deciding her next step. “Do I have a gap year? Do I go to university? What do I do? It was getting to a bit of a crunch time.”  “My brother, who had completed an apprenticeship with Essential Energy at that time, had given me the vibe - this job looks pretty cool. There was always that little bit of competitiveness at home. Well, if he can do it on, why can't I do it better?”After applying in secret, Elijha waited for a response. “I somehow kept going through the application process and it was becoming more real. Then I had to tell my parents that I was due for an interview at the Port Macquarie office, and lo and behold, the next thing I was heading for Lismore, packing my bags and heading out into the world.”Taking a role like this, equal rights are a large part of the equal opportunity equation. “The wages at Essential Energy at the moment for the trade industry, there isn't a pay gap - they have managed to equalise it. They have a high respect for the women as they're trying to diversify the workforce.  “They're very financially supportive as well for women on maternity leave, like six months, and depending on the circumstances the male also gets six months paid paternity leave as well.“Females at work with periods and cramps or you are just having a ‘I don't want to be around men day” does happen. At Essential they have paid personal or sick leave which comes at an unlimited rate. So there's never an issue calling in and just saying ‘look, not feeling fit for work today.’“They have started introducing other timely benefits like with breastfeeding - you get dedicated hours in a day to go and have that time alone and express or have a little bit of a break, and if anything else needs to be attended to they do get that time.”“There’s about 30 guys at the depot. They're all great men. I hold them in great respect that they're almost second fathers.  You don't want to work somewhere where you feel like you don't belong. They're going to become your family. Really, that's what I've experienced with all the guys that I work with in the Lismore depot. “This has been a great, great, great decision, I think, looking back on it.”Elijha knows that the benefits she is receiving now have not been an overnight offering. “You've got to praise the trailblazers who have come before us and the amount that they've been putting in the footwork for what we get now.”“I definitely wouldn't second guess the choice I've made. I think it's been a great career opportunity. And it's definitely like I did one better than my brother!”Essential Energy's apprenticeship window for this year has closed - they had 2,200 applicants for 103 jobs. 500 of the applications are from women. If you are interested, keep an eye out, Essential Energy traineeship opportunities will be opening up shortly.Women interested in pursuing a career in trades should start by exploring programs and resources specifically designed to support their needs. The NSW govt provides information on apprenticeships and Women in Trades Initiatives at Trade pathways for women | NSW Government.You can also look into independent support organisations like:Salt - Supporting and Linking TradeswomenNawic - National Association of Women in ConstructionIf you are a business that is looking for more workers and opportunities to diversify your workforce, there are cultural support initiatives and information available at the Construction Industry Cultural Taskforce.

Three of Lismore’s favourite shops, whose merchandise is lovely to browse and linger over, are on the move from the Star Court Arcade. La Trouvaille, Inka & Co and Made in Lismore are doing a shuffle around the CBD. This is what you need to know, and the good news is there are specials (and we love to support local...)!Made in LismoreMade In Lismore is moving from the Star Court Arcade to Keen Street.Ellen Kronnen, the proprietor, is feeling the need for more space, so when the opportunity arose, Ellen took it, “Victoria at the Artisans Table, put out the call for someone to come share the space.”What this means for Ellen is, “The Artisans Table has a dedicated workshop space with lots of room around you. It gives me a different kind of focus. “Victoria already does quite a lot of workshops; she's a painter and an artist, so she does her work there as well. So you're actually moving around a creative space, so that'll be very exciting.”Ellen is looking forward to doing, “bigger workshops, different workshops. The ones that I've done here in the arcade, I really love, but this is a small space here and a little bit uncomfortable. “The big bonus for me, too, is that we'll be facing the street instead of being in the arcade. The Star Court Arcade has always been my favourite arcade. I just love it. And I've always thought that I was so lucky to be able to have a shop here. But there's no getting around the fact that foot traffic is low here.”“I'm excited, actually, to go now because I've already scheduled about 12 workshops. And I've actually got more than I want to do. I don't have enough days in the week. “I still want to have that retail space. But when I reopened post-flood I my revised plan was that there would be more workshops and switch to wholesale and made-to-order. So, I have less stock because I'm very mindful that the next time we have to pack up for a flood, I want minimal and quick pack-up time.”Made in Lismore is moving to join the Artisans Table space on 94 Keen Street.When? Beginning of July What to look for - specials on NOW until the end of June. Ellen doesn’t want to have to move much! Have a closer look at Ellen's website.Inka & CoInka & Co is moving from the middle of the Strand Court Arcade to the Molesworth Street frontage of the Star Court Arcade.Annette, the sole trader at Inka & Co needs more space than what she currently has.  She took over at Inka & Co from the founder in 2018.“I was shopping in there all the time. Jill approached me to have a go, and I thought, yeah, I'll see how I go.“It was a bit scary at first, changing to another field - I used to be a dental assistant!”Inka & Co have a unique style to their products that are obviously popular, “We’ve got a good little thing going on - our niche. We try to bring the coast to Lismore. All the fun things that you can get further away, we wanted to have them on offer here."Because their style has such a widespread appeal, they get people “18 to 40 or even more, now.”Annette likes to display her wares, so you can get the styling all from one rack. The space she has at the moment doesn’t allow for enough of the looks that she wants to offer.“We provide an old-school sort of service. Real customer service - we want to keep that alive.“We are eager to get out of here and progress. To be on the street and see people coming in and out and seeing the atmosphere outside.”Inka & Co is moving to the street frontage of the Star Court Arcade, where La Trouvaille was trading for the last three years.When? Closing the current shop this Wednesday, 26th June, and reopening at the beginning of July.Get along to the old shop today to see if you can grab a bargain!La TrouvailleHas moved from the Molesworth Street frontage of the Star Court Arcade to the old Brown Boyz Indian Restaurant on Magellan Street.Just to get the enunciation correct, La Trouvaille is pronounced True-Vay. It is French, and Lisa tells me it means, “a chance encounter with something wonderful.” And there are some pretty wonderful things to encounter there… Lisa is also an advocate of being able to experience something before you buy it. “I found that since the floods, as a lot of people are trying to rebuild, they come to me and say things like, can you get me this and can you get me that, and I don't want to shop online and I don't want to go to the Gold Coast.  “I just want to sit on something and feel it and touch it and just have something lovely. That doesn't remind me of the flood.”Lisa has decided to move for space and resources. The new shop includes the ability to lift stock above the flood level quickly and easily.“I already have about five really good quality brands in terms of furniture and furnishings. And then I was offered carpets - beautiful, beautiful carpets. So you know everything from Darren Palmer to Wedgwood to all kinds of beautiful things.“So twofold. Yes, I needed to expand, but I also needed somewhere that could take the heat in terms of another flood. Now we've planned for that.”The new space will allow Lisa to offer some unique furniture that her husband, Michel works with. Live edge slab timber - bespoke furniture. You can have a look at his works on Michel's website. Lisa is excited about the new ranges coming through. There will be a turnover of brands to keep the variety on offer in the city.“There are lots of new furniture lines from Horgans, Wisteria Design and Darcy & Duke. A huge range of designer rug samples coming soon - Laura Ashley, Sanderson, Ted Baker, as well as others.”Lisa has increased her range of luxury finishes, including “cashmere, wool and silk accessories, leather jackets and luggage, and more xx”La Trouvaille has moved to 70 Magellan Street (the old Brown Boyz Indian Restaurant)When? They are already there! Opening last SaturdayWhat to look for - specials on NOW until the end of June for selected Jewellery, homewares and furniture, Jonathan Adler NY and Trudon candles. Some of their elite stock are not permitted to go on sale, but you could score yourself a La Trouvaille shop card pre-loaded with credit with the purchase of some of those big-ticket items. Have a closer look at Lisa's website.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) have coordinated 4 “must-have” apps to be as prepared as possible for what potential disasters will bring next.A spokesperson for the NSWRA explains the significance of that development. “Since 2019, NSW residents have endured more than 65 declared disasters, costing the government more than $6 billion, with more than 20,000 homes damaged in 2022 alone.”One of the major aspects of the NSWRA is for the planning and coordination to mitigate, and risk-manage events. “The Get Ready NSW campaign was one of the 37 short to medium-term actions identified in the State Disaster Mitigation Plan. “This supports the NSW Government’s commitment to making our communities safer, more resilient and better prepared to face the challenges of disasters caused by natural hazards such as floods, bush fires, storms and cyclones and coastal erosion and inundation. “One of the key aims of the Get Ready NSW campaign is to prepare our communities for natural disasters such as storms, fires and floods.“As part of that campaign, the RA is encouraging everyone to increase their preparedness for the next disaster by downloading four key apps which provide crucial information before, during and after events.”These include:Hazards Near Me gives users visibility of what flood/storm/bushfire may be near them. Multiple watch zones with notifications can be set for your house, farm, work, family or other location that has significance. Notifications will automatically let you know if there is a threat by fire, flood, tsunami or severe weather.  Note: It links with the NSW SES and NSW Rural Fire Service to provide a live stream of what is happening.BOM Weather gives users visibility of approaching weather conditions in real time.Tip: It also has a “Warnings” page with all the latest information on weather events and their risk factors.Live Traffic NSW shows what roads may be impacted by a natural disaster.Tip: This has become a very handy tool to understand road situations with the ability to view cameras that are updated every 60 seconds, follow incidents in real time and you can save trips taken often to check on road conditions easily.Emergency Plus is an easy way to call emergency services including the ability to share exact location.Note: the what3words listed at the bottom of the My Location page are a simple way to communicate your precise location when speaking to first responders.Tip: At the hamburger menu on the top left, by selecting “More Information”, a list of emergency contacts come up to help in a variety of scenarios.These apps are available by searching directly, or they can be downloaded via this link on the Get Ready NSW website: www.nsw.gov.au/GetReadyNSWIt is worth spending some time investigating the Get Ready NSW website and learning about all the information and links available on it.“It encourages people to understand their own risks, make emergency plans for households and businesses and provides practical steps to pack an emergency kit.“While downloading apps and logging onto key websites like Get Ready NSW are a useful source of information, during disasters, people should listen to emergency broadcasters like the ABC and heed the advice of emergency service personnel and take their own personal precautions.”

A mandatory Food and Grocery Code of Conduct will be a step towards fairness for farmers and families, NSW Farmers says, but more work needs to be done.The final report of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct Independent Review by Dr Craig Emerson was published on Monday, with all 11 recommendations being agreed to by the Federal Government.But while making the code mandatory, significantly increasing penalties for breaches, and providing better support for farmers in disputes with the supermarkets were positive steps, NSW Farmers Horticulture Committee chair Jo Brighenti-Barnard said there was still a long way to go in solving Australia’s supermarket problem.“We welcome this report, which confirms what we’ve been saying all along – there needs to be meaningful competition reform so Australian farmers and families can get a fair go at the checkout,” Ms Brighenti-Barnard said.“For too long, farmers have been afraid to speak out because of the sheer might of these two big supermarkets, so options for independent mediators and arbitrators who can set enforceable actions is a good step, but growers need to be able to use them without fear of retribution.“It will be critical for farmers to have an active role in drafting this mandatory code so it is practical and fit for purpose.”Among the findings in the report were enormous penalties for breaches of the code – something NSW Farmers had been seeking – but Ms Brighenti-Barnard said courts rarely imposed the maximum penalty.“A mandatory code with significant penalties is something we’ve been seeking, and we welcome this, but they need to be a real deterrent, not just a cost of doing business,” she said.“It’s clear farmers and families are hurting on either side of this supply chain, and it is meaningful competition reform that is needed to deliver results.“So the Emerson report goes one step, but we also need an economy-wide prohibition on unfair trading practices, proper protection against retribution for farmers who speak out, and an overhaul of the current merger and acquisition approval process.”We’re getting there, Ms Brighenti-Barnard said, but there was still a long way to go.“As long as farmers are selling their fresh food for a few cents a kilo and supermarkets are charging families a few dollars a kilo, we’ll all continue to feel the pain,” Ms Brighenti-Barnard said.“We’re hopeful this is the best step towards the meaningful competition reform we’ve been crying out for.”

Lismore City Council Road crews are currently working on a 560-metre stretch of road between Roy Place and Laihaina Crescent, as part of Council’s ongoing commitment to improving the safety of Lismore’s local roads.The Richmond Hill Road upgrade commenced in September 2023 and has already delivered a 1.8km stretch of reconstructed road enhancing both safety and the life of the asset.Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said the final stage of the Richmond Hill Road reconstruction will extend from the end of the current stage to approximately 300 metres past the Laihaina Crescent intersection.“This phase is in the final planning stages and will likely follow the same methodology and treatments as previous stages. Upon completion, the total length of reconstructed road will be 2.7km,” he said.Work began to remove the current 560-metre stretch of old road surface in early June. This was followed by treating the lower sub-base pavement layer through in-situ stabilisation.This process involves incorporating a binder to enhance the performance characteristics of the sub-base layer, enabling the existing material to be reused in the new pavement design.Stabilisation uses a large reclaimer machine, which mixes the existing pavement material with the binder product to the required depth. This mixture is then compacted and shaped to the necessary geometry. Subsequently, a new base layer is laid and compacted to reach the finished surface height.Also, as part of the project, Council have installed adjustments to adjoining driveways, which are included in the project as part of the roadworks.This may also involve replacing pipe crossings and installing grates or concrete dish drains to manage stormwater.Mayor Krieg said the Richmond Hill Road reconstruction efforts are specifically aimed at enhancing the road’s structural integrity, geometry, stormwater infrastructure and overall ride quality and acknowledged the challenges for regional councils in keeping pace with the investment required to maintain local road networks.“Lismore City Council is responsible for maintaining 1215km of sealed and unsealed roads across our LGA. The continued investment required to deliver the sorts of reconstructions and repairs our community deserve would simply not be possible without the ongoing funding support from our State and Federal partners,” he said.The work is jointly funded by the State Government’s Regional and Local Roads Repair Program and Fixing Local Roads Program, and by Lismore City Council.Stay updated on the Richmond Hill Road upgrade project by visiting Council’s Your Say page https://yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au

Heart failure is estimated to affect approximately half a million Australians, with over 67,000 Australians being diagnosed each year. These numbers are likely to increase with the growing and ageing population. Heart failure patients often suffer from multiple comorbidities (cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular), such as an irregular heart rate or rhythm, high blood pressure, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, iron deficiency, and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.5,6,7 A new survey commissioned by YouGov, on behalf of leading charity Hearts4heart, indicates more than four million Australians are not aware of the comorbidities that can increase the risk of heart failure. “The latest research around awareness of comorbidities among Australian adults is very concerning,” said Hearts4heart CEO Tanya Hall, who lost her father to heart failure when he was just 59. “In particular, it is very troubling that only one in three Australians (32%) are aware that kidney disease can increase their risk of heart failure. This condition is one of the major indicators of mortality risk in heart failure and can impact 44% of Australians over the age of 75. “Another comorbidity of concern is type 2 diabetes. This condition impacts 1.2 million Australians and is a high priority on the national health agenda, yet less than half of all Australians (46%) are aware of the link between heart failure and type 2 diabetes.  “Heart failure is the number one cause of hospitalisations for those over the age of 65, and is estimated to cost the Australian health system $3.1 billion each year.4 Lack of awareness of the health conditions that can increase the risk of heart failure is putting a toll on Australia’s health at a personal and a national level,” commented Ms Hall. According to Professor Andrew Sindone, Director Heart Failure Unit and Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation, Concord Hospital and Head of Department of Cardiology, Ryde Hospital, living with heart failure comorbidities can take a toll on the physical and mental health of an individual, but effective management is crucial to ensure best outcomes and a better quality of life.  “Despite the name, heart failure doesn’t mean the heart has stopped or failed, it means that the heart is ‘failing’ to keep up with the body’s demands. A comorbidity, which is any co-existing health condition, is one contributing factor to heart failure if not properly managed, so, it's essential to speak to your GP to understand your risks and treat any underlying medical conditions you may have.5 Having these early discussions with your GP can support early detection and intervention of heart failure, reducing the risk of life-threatening complications including heart attack and stroke,” stated Professor Sindone. Heart failure affects people in different ways. In its early stages, heart failure often has no symptoms. Symptoms can start suddenly and be severe (acute heart failure) or they may appear over time and gradually worsen (chronic heart failure).11 Symptoms of heart failure can include: Breathlessness during minimal exercise, or when resting  Sudden weight gain  New or worsening tiredness, dizziness, confusion, or sadness  Discomfort or swelling in the tummy or lower body  Increased trouble sleeping  Swelling of the legs, ankles, or feet  Loss of appetite  Dry cough  Irregular heartbeat or palpitations “Heart Failure Awareness Week is a Hearts4heart initiative, designed to raise awareness about the prevalence of heart failure in Australia, increase understanding of heart failure symptoms, and highlight the importance of early detection to improve patient outcomes,12” said Ms Hall. In May 2023, the Heart Health Check program, subsidised by Medicare, was extended for another two years, allowing people aged 45 and over and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 30 and over to assess their risk of heart disease during a 20-minute consultation with a medical practitioner.  If you are concerned about yourself, a friend or loved one who may be showing symptoms of heart failure, or to access resources and information, visit www.hearts4heart.org.au.

The NSW Government has returned more than $21.8 million in unclaimed money to families, households and businesses this financial year, setting a new record. Revenue NSW holds payments, refunds, unpresented cheques, dividends and other money that organisations can’t track down as unclaimed money. Typically, unclaimed money is referred to Revenue NSW when someone has moved address, changed their name, lost the relevant paperwork, changed banks or a relative has passed away. Revenue NSW is holding more than $234 million for people in NSW to be returned to its rightful owners. The average amount of unclaimed money owed on the register is $391. In the last ten years more than $154 million worth of unclaimed money has been returned by Revenue NSW. Revenue NSW proactively contacts individuals to reunite them with their unclaimed money. Over the last year, Revenue NSW sent 11,619 letters to individuals with unclaimed money worth around $8 million. A quarter of that funding – $2 million – was ultimately returned. Searching the unclaimed money register is easy and free. Individuals who then want to get back their unclaimed money will need to check they have the right supporting documents to support their claim. Revenue NSW then sends their funds within 28 days. For more information on unclaimed money and to search the register, people can visit the Revenue NSW website at www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/unclaimed-money Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos said, “It’s great we’ve been able to get more than $21 million back into the hands of families and households and set a new record. “With $230 million still available in unclaimed money for people in NSW, I encourage everyone to get online, search the register, and get the money that’s owing to you.” Chief Commissioner of State Revenue Scott Johnston said, “Despite doing our best to give unclaimed money back to the people it’s owed to, we’re still seeing more money referred to us than people are claiming. “We want to make sure everyone knows about the unclaimed money register, so they can jump online, find out if any money is owed to them and undertake the process to get it back. “That way we can ensure more money is being returned to those it belongs to, rather than sitting with us for extended periods of time after enterprises and organisations pass it on.”

Lismore has a new furniture and bedding store on Molesworth Street. Cummings Furniture Court opened today.The idea was born after the February 2022 flood, followed by some serious planning, and the last six months have been spent creating a retail space that fits a Lismore CBD environment.The Cummings family has been part of the Lismore business community since the 1980s. The company was founded by current owner Elton Cummings' father Anzac, in 1948. Elton has seen and experienced all kinds of floods, but nothing has killed his belief in the Lismore CBD.To prove that, the Cummings family has invested more money into fixing up the Molesworth Street building, which included asbestos removal, installing a service lift to transport products onto the mezzanine level when a flood hits, and putting down a new epoxy concrete floor of a kind that hasn't been seen in the Northern Rivers. The walls have been cleaned, dried, and twice coated, and they have that stripped-back industrial look that so many CBD buildings have now.(The stripped-back industrial look of the new Cummings Furniture Court on Molesworth Street)"We should never have to worry about floods in there," Elton said, then had a wry smile before saying, "We always worry about floods, but it should come in and go out without much problem. We've got holes in the floor, so the water runs straight out. All the power points are above '74 and even the wiring in the ceiling is above '22. We've actually mounted it to the top of the ceiling, which the water didn't get to. So, in the event of a very large flood, the wires will just drop down. There's no need to go back and rewire the whole building again. All our power boxes and security and the things that you had down low are all up on the second floor.When the next flood hits, it is a matter of lifting the majority of furniture onto the mezzanine level, wait until the water subsides, then hose out and re-stock the floor."We can probably lift three-quarters of the stock. We won't get all the mattresses up, but we'll get most of the furniture up. But that's yet to be seen. We will have to wait and see how we go. The mattresses will be taken away a couple of days prior to the flood anyway. We've been here since the 80s, and we've never lost anything up to the last flood. So, we're suitably prepared now, I hope."While work is not 100% complete due to delays, Cummings Bi-Rite and Furniture Court is open for a "soft launch".Another delay is the shop signage."That won't go up until the work on the awning has been completed. It's not as simple as putting a bit of iron and fibro on to make it work; it's quite involved. That will probably take another four or five weeks.Importantly, even a soft launch means specials and discounts for the people of Lismore and the surrounding area."Yes, yes," Elton said quickly, "We were able to obtain discounts from our manufacturers for our lounges, bedding, and mattresses. We've done some fabulous deals to pass on to people. I was very pleased with the deals that we were able to get for opening specials, so they're available now.""The specials are many and varied. For example, we have a large range of La Z Boy lounge suites, rocker recliners and electric lift chairs in leather and fabric at great opening specials. Come in and speak to our friendly furniture and bedding specialist.Elton had more good news.These are the 'soft opening' specials, but there will be more to come when the 'grand opening' occurs in August."As I mentioned before, there are some slight hold-ups with awning works and signage, but we are close. It's been a long journey for the Cummings family, Elton and his team, but now they can see the finishing line is not far away."I'm really pleased with the result and the look of the place. We're over budget, but this was an investment in Lismore. You invest in the town, and the town rewards you. "There's a need for a quality furniture and bedding store in town, and we believe people will shop in Lismore. They're loyal, and they don't want to go to other towns to buy their products. People have been saying they're very proud of the shop, and they're very proud that Lismore has another new business opening."Cummins Bi-Rite and Furniture Court is at 47 Molesworth Street, next to the Centre Church. There trading hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm and Saturday 8:30am to 2pm.

We are nearly at the end of the first month of winter. Temperatures are in the late teens/early twenties during the day and are usually between 4 and 8 degrees in the early hours of each day.A group of kind-hearted volunteers from the Tuesday Crochet Club helped Lismore's homeless last week when they donated a bag full of beanies and scarves to Mieke Bell at the Lismore Soup Kitchen at The Winsome.Melody Burge told the Lismore App that Lynne Masters, who passed away about eighteen months ago, founded the Tuesday Crochet Club. Melody has been with the group for about two years."We used to meet at the Workers Club downtown, then after the flood we moved to the Sports Club in Goonellabah."Every year, we try to do something charity-minded. One year, we made blankets; last year, we did the dignity bags and this year, we did the beanies and scarves.The group meets every Tuesday morning at 10am at the Sports Club, and has spent the last two months creating some winter warmth for our homeless community."I think it was brought up in group back in April," Melody explained, "We've just been crocheting each Tuesday since, and when one was finished, I would take it home and store it, and then that person would move on to the next one."The beanies and scarves are very colourful so easily recognised around town.(From left: Liane, Lillian, Sue, Melody, Margie and David with their donation of scarves, beanies and vouchers for Lismore's homeless) "If I saw one, I personally would feel really proud and feel like I contributed to the community. That would make me feel good. There are so many people that are much less fortunate than I am."On top of the beanie and scarf donations, the group also donated $200 worth of Best and Less vouchers so people could purchase underwear and socks, as that is another needed item at the Winsome.Lismore Soup Kitchen President Mieke Bell said it is always great to receive knitted goods."Our people are constantly asking for them. We put them out, mostly every day, and they do go, so it's always a great donation."Mieke said the Winsome Soup Kitchen now has sufficient scarves and beanies for this winter."We do pass on some of our donations here to the Good Pantry on Wyrallah Road (East Lismore). The Good Pantry actually comes under the umbrella of the Lismore Soup Kitchen. So, if we get donations of warm clothes, beanies, scarves excess to what we need, we pass them on to the Pantry because they have a lot of people that go into the Pantry. They are never ever wasted."One of our volunteers is the wardrobe manager here; we call it The Closet, does a fabulous job looking after warm clothes that are needed. I am not sure what is on her list at the moment in terms of what we actually need, but we have had a few good donations recently, in terms of winter gear like tracksuits, jumpers, blankets and sleeping bags."If people want to know how they can help us, just reach out, then we can tell them the specific items we are looking for."The Winsome & Lismore Soup Kitchen contact number is (02) 6622 4055 or Mieke's mobile on 0407 789 528."People can just give me a ring and ask what items are needed. We operate in that way because we have limited storage space for items that we're given. The community have been so generous and always are, particularly in winter."The Tuesday Crochet Club meet at 10am each week at the Lismore Workers Sports Club in Goonellabah (202 Oliver Avenue). Anyone is welcome, and if you don't know how to crochet there are plenty of people to teach you that skill. Melody said she joined the group for the social aspect too."I joined the group because I'm out on a farm all week. Some weeks, I didn't even see anybody; I had no girlfriends or friends. This has been a lifesaver for me personally. It's my outing for the week, and I've clicked with a couple of people in the group that I've gone on to form really strong friendships with."We go off and do things together and go away to crochet retreats and stuff like that. They are a great bunch of people. We welcome new members."

Around one-quarter of Australian eyecare patients are avoiding treatment for their condition for cost reasons, according to new research published this week.The study, published in the latest issue of Public Health Research & Practice, a peer-reviewed journal of the Sax Institute, surveyed patients attending collaborative eyecare clinics, where optometrists provide comprehensive diagnostic imaging and eyecare services typical of public hospitals or large private ophthalmology practices. Patients faced significant financial barriers, with 36.8% reporting that they did not obtain services prescribed by an optometrist due to costs. One or more direct or indirect cost barriers were experienced by 42.6% of respondents for optometric eyecare, and 40.4% for specialist eyecare.Patients with poorer self-rated health or lacking private hospital health insurance were the hardest hit.“Our findings underline the considerable cost barriers people face when accessing eyecare,” says senior author Dr Angelica Ly, a researcher at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW Sydney.“We found that, on average, one in four patients were opting not to access eyecare services because of the cost, even after attending a collaborative care clinic that provides services at no cost to patients. And nearly half reported cost as a barrier when seeking eyecare. Our research shows that more support is needed, especially for people with poor self-rated general health or without private hospital health insurance.”The findings come at a time when the real value of Medicare rebates is in decline, contributing to a considerable uptick in out-of-pocket costs for eyecare services over the past decade, the authors say. The average inflation-adjusted copayment for optometry services increased by over $30 from 2010 to 2020, they note, and the median out-of-pocket fee for specialist services is currently $96. At the same time, use of optometric services is high, with 82% of Australians having undergone an eyecare test in the previous two years.“Overall, these findings indicate that current collaborative eyecare models may be improved by providing additional support for individuals who are in poorer health or do not have private health insurance. Additionally, public health policies need to use eyecare-specific strategies to optimise access to eyecare,” the authors conclude.This issue of Public Health Research & Practice also has a strong focus on global health issues, including climate change and refugee health.A perspective on the recent COP28 climate change conference in Dubai written by researchers from Monash University warns that Australia must phase out fossil fuels, and calls on public health practitioners to take the lead in advocating for climate policies that protect and promote health and equity.“Integrating health considerations into decision-making and action to address climate change can lead us towards a more sustainable, resilient and equitable future,” they write.Two other papers address the need for Australia to develop policies to ensure refugees can access necessary catch-up vaccinations to protect their health. Addressing the complexities in the delivery of immunisation to refugees requires a collaborative approach involving policymakers, providers and refugee communities, argues one paper, while the other notes the need for geographically targeted strategies that support primary care access to immunisation for priority populations.The issue’s editorial, authored by health experts from Monash University and the Burnet Institute, warns that “health investment and action delayed is health and wellbeing delayed”.“The decision to invest, disinvest or avoid investment in public health, whether in health systems or action on the social, economic, cultural, environmental, commercial and biological determinants of health, has real consequences for people’s physical, emotional, spiritual and mental health and wellbeing,” they write.The authors note that beyond the challenges of refugee health and climate change highlighted in this issue, there are many other areas of public health where “unrelenting advocacy, greater investment and concerted actions” are needed to make inclusive, fair and equitable societies more achievable.

On Friday, former Premier Dominic Perrottet visited Lismore and toured the area with Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin to get an update on Lismore's flood recovery.No matter what your political belief is, you cannot help but admire the bipartisanship shown between two key political figures. As Premier of NSW at the time of the February 28 2022 event, Dominic Perrottet visited Lismore soon after the February 28, 2022, flood devastated Lismore, and then made regular trips to the region to see how the cleanup and recovery was progressing.Mr Perrottet genuinely appeared to care as his government went about putting funding in place, including the $1.4 billion tabled in parliament for the Resilient Homes Program and the $50,000 Commercial Landlord Grant.Ms Saffin acknowledged Mr Perrottet's commitment to Lismore in her introduction."One of the first people on the ground was Dominic Perrottet at that time, and he came back many times over up until the last election, and he has come back today to have a look, see and listen to just see how we're going and hear from local people, particularly some of our local commercial landlords, our family investors, our are locals, about how that commercial landlord grant went."The meeting at the Living Lab involved some well-known local business owners, such as Elton Cummings from Bi-Rite, Matt Healy from Daleys Homewares, Deb Ray from Music Bizarre, and Ken Arnett from the Star Court Arcade, to name a few.The business owners expressed their thanks for the Commercial Landlord Grant as it saved their business from going under. Could it have been made available faster, yes, but we all would like to see faster progress in our rebuild. The reality is changes in legislation take time.When Ms Saffin and Mr Perrottet popped into Southside Chempro in South Lismore, owner Kyle Wood said he lost a million dollars of stock, and the Commercial Landlord Grant kept the doors open while he rebuilt his business.(Southside Chempro owner Kyle Wood talking with former Premier Dominic Perrottet and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin on Friday)"It was it was fantastic to hear the stories today of locals, saying that those grants saved their businesses," Mr Perrottet said, "And then the landlords are helping the retailers, and the tenants, so it all flows down. It's good to hear the feedback, but ultimately as well, I think it's good to learn, and that is the most positive thing I heard today, was that that approach is now a precedent that is available in every other state. And, if that is true, that is a good thing.""The only thing I'd say is, we got that money out the door, and there are still things I think could be improved, and as long as we learn those lessons for next time, we'll be in a better spot."Mr Perrottet said that Lismore has a special place in his heart."It's great to be with Janelle in Lismore, and I was saying earlier that Lismore has a special place in my heart. It was obviously a very devastating and difficult time, but working very closely with Janelle and, I think, the entire community at that time. It brought out the best in Australians.""What I saw on the ground during that period of time was the spirit of sacrifice and service. The way that everyone came out and looked after each other was incredibly special. It's an untold story that people across New South Wales in Australia would appreciate because it was an incredibly difficult time, but sometimes hard times bring out the best in people, and that's exactly what happened here in Lismore.""It's fantastic to be back. I called Janelle, and I said I wanted to come up and see how things are going, and to thank people who had obviously worked incredibly hard during that period of time. It's fantastic to be here and to see the progress.""In fact, I remember just after every time I'd come up, I could see progress. You'd go from absolute devastation, to clean up and just to be here now and see how the town has come back to life. Yes, there's a long way to go, there's a lot of planning that needs to be done, but it's a long way from where we were on that very first day. That's due to the people here. And, to hear their stories, to hear their experiences today and what worked and what didn't, it's been great."Mr Perrottet admitted that when he saw the devastation the first day he visited Lismore, he could not see the future."The people of Lismore have made the future, and that's why we're here today. It fills me with a lot of happiness to see people getting on with life and running their businesses. Obviously, it is difficult times right now, like talking to Janelle about the cost of living biting, not just in Lismore but everywhere, right. So, that's another challenge. There's always challenges, but I think you put that in perspective. I think from where we were to where the community is today. It's fantastic."The former Premier was standing in the Living lab surrounded by the Look Ahead exhibition, where SCU, UTS (University of Technology Sydney) and the NSWRA have collaborated with the community to form a vision for the CBD, South Lismore and North Lismore. What are Mr Perrottet's impression?"Hope. What filled me with hope is that it's a realistic vision. It's a realistic vision, and it's a smart vision. You're getting planning right in the areas where it matters. You're building homes, and homes that are affordable. With the housing crisis across Australia, New South Wales, these are affordable homes, which brings people into town, which creates culture, which creates life, which drives economic growth, and ultimately, there's no point of an economy if you don't have a society, and that's exactly what I think this vision will deliver for Lismore.""It's exciting to see that you can just come in and put a post-it note on the wall and give your idea because I can tell you what helped me during the floods was being on the ground hearing people's ideas. Speaking to Janelle, listening to her views, going back and telling the public service, no, we're doing it this way, because that's what we'd seen on the ground and heard on the ground. The same principles are occurring here, and that's getting ideas from the public; everyone having buy-in to the vision doesn't. It doesn't mean you're all going to agree, that's never going to happen, but ultimately, the more ideas you have, the better the outcomes."(The post-it notes on the Living Lab Ideas Board)You can view the Living Lab 'Look Ahead' exhibition Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 1pm and 4pm at 11 Woodlark Street, Lismore CBD (the Molesworth Street end).

UPDATE:Jyllie Jackson has been in touch with an estimate of more than 32,000 at the 2024 Lismore Lantern Parade! A record crowd attended the Riverside Park Fiery Finale, which was a record number. The event was live-streamed to over 700 people across the globe.An incredible year for Jyllie and her team.ORIGINAL STORYIt is notoriously difficult to guess the size of a crowd, but a fairly good estimate of last night's 2024 Lismore Lantern Parade would surely be between 15,000 to 20,000, proving once again that this is Lismore's premiere event of the year.Parking was at a premium, as people were parking on the southern side of Ballina Road because parking in the CBD and Ballina Road itself was full. It has been many years since that was the case for any Lismore event.A huge congratulations to the Lismore and Northern Rivers community for turning out on the longest day of the year.As is the case each year, bands lined the streets to create a carnival atmosphere.As the 130 feature lanterns made their way down Magellan, Molesworth, and Victoria streets, young children were ooohing and ahhing and overheard saying, "Look Daddy, there's a lady" or "Look Daddy, there's a fish".Down at Riverside Park, thousands sat on the banks and stood around the edges to watch the Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow theme.Mayor Steve Krieg introduced the Acknowledgement of Country by Uncle Gilbert and Uncle Roy."Lismore City Council is so proud to partner with Jyllie and the Lantern Parade team, and it is an honour to stand here tonight and celebrate the 30th anniversary of this magnificent event," Mayor Krieg said. So, on behalf of everyone in Lismore, and it's not only Lismore, this is regional, state, national and international. We reach all corners of the globe through lanterns, Jyllie. You really are a tremendous asset to the Lismore community, and we thank you so much for all the work that you do."Jyllie Jackson thanked everybody for supporting the Lismore Lantern Parade."Thank you for coming tonight, and thank you for the love that you're spreading all over our beautiful city. The theme tonight in the finale is Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. I won't go into detail because it's very complex. Take away for yourselves what you need and look forward to a better future. Thank you be kind to each other and drive safely home."Yesterday.Today. Tomorrow was ethereal, yet probably mystifying to the many young children watching. Towards the end, one child could be heard to say, "Burn it, burn it" before the tree of life was set a light.Three simple burning words were displayed at the start of each of the three scenes. We....Me....Us....and ending with the words Compassion and Connection.As the Tree of Life started to burn, a small fireworks display shot up into the sky as the 2024 Lismore Lantern Parade came to a close.Congratulations to everyone involved in putting together this year's 30th Lantern Parade, especially Jyllie and her small core team. Congratulations to every one of the 15,000 plus who enjoyed the afternoon's activities and those who came out on a cold winter evening to make it a fantastic success.The next major events we can look forward to are:The 2024 Rodney Lees Cabinetmaking Lismore Cup andThe 2024 Elders Lismore Show.July and August are quiet months before they are cranked up in September and October. Bring it on.

Lismore! Kicking off the 30th Lismore Lantern Parade, today's splendid Freedom of Entry made for a stunning spectacle as they marched through the streets. (Photo: LCC)People lined the path of the parading army, wanting a glimpse of the soldiers, and enjoying the band. The ceremonial uniforms, medals and weapons on display made a mighty spectacular vision as they stepped in perfect unison down the street to the sound of the Australian Army Band.(Photo: LCC)(Photo: LCC)“Halt, who goes there?” rung out the voice of Richmond PD Superintendent Scott Tanner, who was there to challenge the legion in a powerful standoff. He stepped in front of the Army and challenged the Lieutenant Colonel, Officer in charge of the 41st Battalion, Danial Healy, demanding security for the city.(Photo: LCC. It looked nerve racking to stand up to a fully armed group, no matter how secure the circumstances are.)(Supt Tanner resplendent in full dress uniform)The regiment declared themselves, and Supt Tanner recognised their right to be here armed as they were, and they were permitted to continue on their way.(Photo: LCC)It was then on to inspection at the keen eye of the Mayor of Lismore, Councillor Steve Krieg. The assembled dignitaries provided the peaceful invasion with a scroll to commemorate the occasion, and the 41st Batallion provided a token of their own to the City of Lismore to commemorate the occasion.(Photo: LCC)(Photo: LCC)(Photo: LCC. Lietenant Colonel Danial Healy accepts the scroll to commemorate the occasion)(Photo: LCC)(Lismores Mayor, Councillor Steve Kreig holds the commerorative memorabilia presented to Lismore as part of the presentation.)The Mayor was very much looking forward to inspecting the troops. I asked him how it went, and if he found anything untoward. He said, "No, no, too nervous." I confirmed whether he was reffering to the troops, and he replied, "Me! Just happy to be there, it's not something you get to do every day. It's very much and honor and a privilege for me to be involved." With a brief reflection and a smile he said, "some of them may have been nervous, too!"(MP's and Mayors here for the spectacle)What we witnessed today was a right not afforded in all places around the world. Even with the pomp and ceremony, there is a certain amount of awe when you see fully armed military personel moving through a public space.(Photo: LCC)(Photo: LCC)It is a sight to remember…

Ballina's Joshua Manning was named Apprentice of the Year at last night's 2024 North Coast & Mid North Coast Training Awards at the Byron Theatre.Josh told the Lismore App yesterday about his family history with mechanics and his own passion Josh Manning is a finalist in tonight's Apprentice of the Year Awards. Last night's event celebrated the achievements of all category winners including apprentices, trainees, students, businesses, and trainers that champion vocational education.   Joshua Manning and Emily Sutherland, who took top honours at the 2024 North Coast & Mid North Coast Training Awards ceremony last night at the Byron Theatre, were given special recognition. Joshua was named Apprentice of the Year and commended for his drive, knowledge, and passion for the automotive industry. Special mention was made of the additional training and skill development opportunities he took on while completing his apprenticeship early. He is passionate about mechanical and electrical vehicle repair and restoration and is a capable speaker, making him an outstanding advocate for his industry as a VET ambassador.“I chose the automotive trade primarily because of my dad, who was a mechanic for around 43 years and ran his own business for most of that time,” Josh said. “Another factor that led me to the trade was purchasing my first vehicle. With my dad’s help, we restored the vehicle just in time for me to take it to my high school formal.”  “During this project, I realised how useful the automotive skill set is and the rewards of figuring out mechanical and electrical systems for repair or restoration.” Emily received the Trainee of the Year award for her outstanding skills, commitment, and outcomes-focused contribution to the Australian Football League. As the first female team member in the Northern NSW office, Emily was recognised for her leadership, program delivery, ability to thrive in challenging circumstances, and inspiring colleagues and the local football community in the game's development.“A high-energy individual with a passion for sport and exercise, I was excited by the opportunity to work in the sports industry,” Emily said. “As part of my traineeship with SportsReady and AFL NSW/ACT, I completed Certificate III in Business while working full-time based out of Coffs Harbour.” “I chose to apply for this traineeship to continue my education following secondary school and to work towards admission into university for further study.” The finalists and winners at the North Coast & Mid North Coast regional awards exemplify the world-class VET sector in the region, highlighting the breadth of rewarding career opportunities offered by vocational education and training.   Presented by Training Services NSW, the awards demonstrate the importance of providing real skills for real careers and highlight the NSW Government’s commitment to building a resilient and highly skilled workforce.  Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan said, "We know many jobs created in the next decade will require vocational qualifications. These awards celebrate the young workers, trainers and businesses working to ensure we meet this challenge."  "Congratulations to Joshua and Emily for their remarkable achievements. Their stories exemplify the transformative power of VET and the opportunities it creates for individuals to thrive and make a significant impact in their communities."   For more information on VET in NSW visit skills.education.nsw.gov.au.   

2024 is a special year for Lismore's popular singing group, Isabella A Cappella. This year, the group celebrates its 40th anniversary of entertaining audiences in Lismore, the Northern Rivers and internationally. Isabella A Cappella was founded by the late Isabel Atcheson in 1984 to give students and staff at The Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education (now Southern Cross University) a chance to sing and perform together. Since then, it has nurtured over 150 vocalists from the Northern Rivers region and helped them develop into more confident and well-rounded musicians.Sadly, the group's funding from SCU was cut in 2021. Post Covid, the choir has been managing to 'survive' with Musical Director Grace Cockburn donating her time and expertise."Isabella A Cappella is representative of our diverse and thriving Northern Rivers community, Grace told the Lismore App, "It's members range from 25-62 years of age and come from all different backgrounds and musical experiences.""Acappella music is a very challenging art form and requires the careful and connected attention of each individual to contribute to the group sound. It can be a rewarding and humbling experience and challenges the most accomplished vocalist. The musical growth that each member receives is important and often cathartic and deserves support from our community.(Isabella A Cappella performing at Carols In The Heart last year)"Isabel Atcheson's legacy lives on through the people of this choir, and it's very important to me to keep that alive."As this is Isabella A Cappella's 40th anniversary, the group is reigniting its presence in the Northern Rivers community. They will be recording and releasing an album, and hosting a 40th-anniversary celebration gig and touring Japan late this year. The choir has a long legacy of musical friendship tours to Japan, but this year, they need your help to get them there.In the past, Isabella A Cappella has completed 10 tours of Japan, and helped raise $50,000 to build the Japanese Centre at SCU, that is now in it's 20th year of operation.During the tour, they will promote and sell the album as well as maintain and build on their long-standing relationships with Lismore's sister city, Yamato Takada , in Japan. The album and Tour celebrate the legacy of Isabella A Cappella.Isabella A Cappella has been working hard on their own arrangement of songs by Australian and New Zealand artists with the hope of recording an album."As we haven't had funding since 2021, we need to raise funds to record the album and send the group to the planned musical friendship tour of Japan."You can help Isabella A Cappella achieve their goals by donating through their GoFundMe page."We started this GoFundMe to put all these songs on an album and finally share them with the world," Grace said.To donate, click on the link https://gofund.me/5668ce43.You can watch Isabella A Cappella perform their magic at the Lismore Lantern Parade Heartbeats Festival Stage at 2:50 this afternoon.

The Lismore Lantern Parade has been thrilling audiences for 30 years in Lismore, most of them in the CBD. Many memories have been created over those 30 years, and many more will be created tonight."A lot of people I speak to remember the magic the Lantern Parade left them with as children," Jyllie Jackson said, "The magic of it has been a constant theme, and just so many people coming together is another thing that came across to me. People who first came as children are now coming with their children, so it's intergenerational."There are road closures you should be aware of today:Parade Lantern Assembly and Market Delight closures for today (Saturday, 22 June):- Magellan Street from Keen Street to Dawson Street: CLOSED 6am – 7pm (Lismore City Motor Inn access open)- Hampton Lane from Magellan Street to Dawson Street: CLOSED 6am – 7pm- Harold Fredricks Car Park entry/exit from Magellan Street: CLOSED 6am – 7pm- Section of Harold Fredricks Car Park adjacent to Magellan Street: CLOSED 6am – 7pm- Magellan Street from Molesworth Street to Keen Street: CLOSED 6am – 12am- Carrington Street from County Lane to Magellan Street: CLOSED 6am – 12am- Carrington Street from Magellan Street to Woolworths ramp: CLOSED 2pm (Friday, 21 June) – 9am (Sunday, 23 June) 41st Battalion Freedom of Entry Parade Closures: 1pm – 2.30pm- Keen Street at the Magellan Street roundabout- Molesworth Street from Magellan Street to Bounty Street Lismore Lantern Parade Closures: 4.30pm – 7pm- Keen Street at Magellan Street roundabout- Molesworth Street from Magellan Street to Bounty Street Fiery Finale - Riverside Park and Boat Ramp Car Park:- Market Street and Victoria Street to Boat Ramp – 6am – 8pm- Riverside Park and Car Park - CLOSED 17 June – 24 JuneMake sure you take some cash today or tonight to the Lismore Lantern Parade. When you see someone dressed like John Allan, throw a few coins or a fiver into the collection bucket.Jyllie said there are over 130 feature lanterns in the parade that are powered by batteries that cost $150 each. LightnUp Inc has made in excess of 1,700 of the little lanterns with 1,700 LED lights in them. They have used 147 litres of PVA and many kilometres of greaseproof paper and several thousand bundles of bamboo."We're very old school," Jyllie said, "And I like that. We do things by hand. All the candle holders are made by hand, and the little plastic crosses that put some of the lanterns together are all hand chopped, punched and pulled. It's all done with love and done with care."There will be 2,500 to 3,000 people carrying lanterns in the parade tonight, which will also include two or three bands, including the Army band, creating a festival atmosphere.As you can see, to put on an event of this size and scale costs a lot of money. Your support is very much appreciated by Jyllie Jackson and the team at LightnUp Inc.If you don't carry cash any more, click https://www.givenow.com.au/30yearsoflanterns and donate online."We are a small community group and the Parade is NOT fully funded."Activities kick off at 12 midday and run through until 9pm. Check out all the days events on the Lismore App button on the front page Lismore Lantern Parade.

Neil Marks has been a Lismore and Northern Rivers personality for the last 30 years.He worked at 2LM and ZZZ FM for 30 years and was a Lismore City Councillor for 13 years. Many in the community know him personally or by name. Being a councillor for so long, some people will not speak highly of him.Even his harshest critics will give him encouragement in his next venture, which is to ride his beloved Triumph around Australia to raise awareness for mental health.Neil can speak to the issue firsthand during his six-week ride, travelling over 15,000km because he too suffers from depression. His goal is to share his story with as many people as possible and to help as many people as possible. Even if that is only 1 person, then his journey will have been worthwhile.Neil's own mental health problems started prior to the 2022 flood when "Things weren't playing well in my head," he told the Talking Lismore podcast this week (Podcasts)."It was just all over the place. Suddenly, I was trying to work out why a girl, when she was sixteen, ditched me for her old boyfriend while I was at school. It was just weird."When Neil went to see his doctor, he described his symptoms as his poor memory, fidgety legs and dreadful balance. As the conversation moved on, Neil asked what does depression feel like?"She said those three things tick off a physical side of it. So, we had a fairly in-depth discussion and ran through lots of questions and bingo; that's where I was."At that point, Neil described feeling heavy."There's a physical weight that I just couldn't shake. You just doubted and second-guessed everything you were doing and everything you had done."The next part of the conversation was about what they were going to do about it. For Neil, that included Google searches, Lifeline, Beyond Blue and the Black Dog Institute."I went to every one of them, and I just couldn't find myself in there. So, I started my search for more information. In that twelve months between Covid and the flood, I didn't do a great deal apart from self-look at things."In that time, Neil withdrew from the community and spent time in his 'safe places'."Work is a safe place, home is a safe place, certain friends create safe places that you can go to and being on my own was a safe place. You change in so many different ways."At the end of the twelve months, Neil went back to the doctor and said it was time to see a specialist, a psychologist or a psychiatrist because the medication was not working alone."Medication numbed the hell out of me. It made me feel that if this was as good as it gets, what else could I do to improve?""So, I started seeing a psychologist and started doing relaxation exercises and other things to help me sleep. You realise that sleep, good food and exercise, and all those sorts of things put you in a better place."Motivation, or the lack thereof, is an element of mental health that you hear a great deal about. It was the case for Neil."Unless I made a commitment to someone, motivation is hard. I used to get up and go for a run seven days a week and take the dog out; I loved it. That all stopped. A couple of people I exercised with started dragging me out. They made me turn up on Saturday mornings and made sure I went for a walk at least once a week, and they still do. Once I say yes to them, I've got to do it.""I can wake up at my normal time of 5 in the morning and say now just sit there and have a nice long cup of coffee, and those sort of things. That motivation is really, really tough."Another twelve months later, Neil started seeing a psychiatrist, which was not the easiest profession to find availabilities in Lismore, to review the medication he was taking."An immediate change in medication, adding to what I was already taking, which was less, within days, I felt a different person. In amongst all that, I was working with the psychologist to find different ways to do things. Testing yourself. What is it I really wanted to do in life? What do I feel I've missed out in life that I could then work towards? ""We started to talk about purpose, and she said, why don't you do something around mental health and your career backgrounds you've had? I didn't feel comfortable about being a spokesperson for mental health and said you kind of are because you have it, and with your communication skill, why don't you use it?"The result was a Facebook page called 'Chasing The Dog' where Neil has open conversations about his mental health. Chasing The Dog includes interaction with other people who were also suffering from mental health issues. It was these conversations that led Neil to learn more about himself than through his psychologist, psychiatrist or his doctor."It's about connecting with other people who are suffering from the same sort of things. You sit down, and you compare notes. You ask do you have this? do you have that? do you have the fidgety leg? do you wake up in the morning with heavy shoulders and a dull sensation? Is that the medication? You realise there are a lot of commonalities, and that's what I wasn't finding in the websites I was going to."Neil felt a friend was not doing well mentally, asked and was told, "You picked it". After messaging, phone conversations and face-to-face conversations, Neil realised that he had learned more about himself through this process."I learned a lot from several conversations, and at one stage I probably sat down with him for an hour, and it was probably the most educational hour that I learnt about me. That this is real, it is something you have, and it is something that you have to work through."It was at that point, Neil thought he could do more. He could use his media contacts to start a conversation about mental health. Now, Neil Marks is expanding the conversation from his Chasing the Dog Facebook page to a nationwide conversation as he rides his Triumph around our vast land.The Lismore App will follow his six-week journey and provide updates, but you can stay up to date via Neil's Facebook page.(Neil Marks is taking short trips around the Northern Rivers to build up his physical strength that will be needed when he embarks on his journey around Australia, travelling 500km per day, on average. Photo: Neil Marks)